eChineseLearningPod

Ever found yourself eating amazing Chinese food… but not knowing what to say? In this episode, you’ll learn simple, natural ways to compliment food in Chinese.

📝The Classic: Delicious

Zhēn hǎochī!

真好吃！

This is really delicious!

Tài hǎochī le!

太好吃了！

This is so delicious!

📝Talking About Flavor

Zhège wèidào zhēn bùcuò.

这个味道真不错。

This flavor is really good.

Zhège wèidào jué le!

这个味道绝了！

This flavor is incredible!

📝Complimenting the Cooking

Nǐ zuò de cài zhēn hǎochī.

你做的菜真好吃。

The food you cooked is delicious.

Nǐ de chúyì zhēn bàng.

你的厨艺真棒。

Your cooking skills are great.

📝When You Really Love the Food

Wǒ tài xǐhuān zhège cài le.

我太喜欢这个菜了。

I really love this dish.

Xià cì wǒ hái xiǎng chī zhège.

下次我还想吃这个。

I want to eat this again next time.

Hěn hé wǒ de wèikǒu.

很合我的胃口。

It really suits my taste.

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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Want to order food in Chinese but not sure how to explain what you want? 🍜

In this episode,we will share some practical phrases to help you at Chinese restaurants. You will learn:

🌶️When you want to control the spice

👉Zhège là ma?

这个辣吗？

Is this spicy?

👉Wēi là jiù xíng.

微辣就行。

Mild spicy is fine.

👉Wǒ bù yào là.

我不要辣。

I don’t want it spicy.

👉Tè là wǒ pà shòu bù liǎo.

特辣我怕受不了。

Extra spicy might be too much for me.

🥬When you need to avoid certain ingredients

👉Bù yào cōng hé xiāngcài

不要葱和香菜

No scallions and no cilantro.

👉Duì huāshēng guòmǐn

对花生过敏

Allergic to peanuts.

👉Duō jiā yì diǎn suàn

多加一点蒜

Add a little more garlic.

👉Shǎo fàng yán

少放盐

Less salt, please.

🍽️When you’re figuring out portions

👉Yí gè rén chī de wán ma?

一个人吃得完吗？

Can one person finish this?

👉Wǒmen liǎng gè rén, diǎn jǐ gè cài chà bù duō?

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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我们两个人，点几个菜差不多？

For two people, how many dishes should we order?

Want to ask someone to take a photo for you in Chinese while traveling? 📸

In this episode , we will share simple and practical phrases you can use:

📝Qǐngwèn, néng bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhào ma?

请问，能帮我拍张照吗？

Excuse me, could you take a photo for me?

📝Bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhào, kěyǐ ma?

帮我拍张照，可以吗？

Could you take a photo for me?

📝Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen pāi yì zhāng ma?

可以帮我们拍一张吗？

Could you take one for us?

📝Nǐ hǎo, kěyǐ hé nǐ hézhào ma?

你好，可以和你合照吗？

Hi, can I take a photo with you?

📝Bāng wǒ bǎ hòumiàn de jǐng dōu pāi jìnqù

帮我把后面的景都拍进去

Include the scenery behind me.

📝Xiǎn tuǐ cháng yì diǎn

显腿长一点

Make my legs look longer.

📝Xiǎn liǎn xiǎo yì diǎn

显脸小一点

Make my face look smaller.

📝Bāng wǒ pāi zhāng quánshēn de

帮我拍张全身的

Take a full-body photo.

📝Bāng wǒ duō pāi jǐ zhāng

帮我多拍几张

Take a few more photos.

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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Ever landed at a Chinese airport and didn’t know where to go next? ✈️ In this episode, you’ll learn the essential Chinese phrases for asking directions at the airport .

You will learn:

📝Find the Exit

Chū kǒu zài nǎ biān

请问，出口在哪边？

Excuse me, which way is the exit?

📝Pick Up Your Luggage

👉Xíng lǐ zài nǎ lǐ ná

行李在哪里拿？

Where do I pick up my luggage?

👉Zài nǎ lǐ qǔ xíng lǐ

在哪里取行李？

Where is the baggage claim?

📝Ask about transportation

👉Dì tiě zài nǎ lǐ

地铁在哪里？

Where is the subway?

👉Qǐng wèn, Jī chǎng bā shì zài nǎ lǐ

请问，机场巴士在哪里？

Excuse me, Where is the airport bus?

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

Book a free 1-on-1 Mandarin trial at eChineseLearning.com and start speaking confidently today!

Have you ever stood at the airport, staring at the departure board, wondering what’s happening to your flight?

In this episode, we teach you the exact Chinese phrases you need when your flight is delayed in China.

⭐Ask If the Flight Is Delayed

✈️ Qǐngwèn, zhè bān hángbān yánwù le ma?

请问，这班航班延误了吗?

Excuse me, is this flight delayed?

⭐Ask About the New Departure Time

✈️ Yán wù dào shén me shí hou

延误到什么时候?

Until what time is it delayed?

✈️ Dà gài jǐ diǎn néng dēng jī

大概几点能登机?

About what time will boarding start?

✈️ Shén me shí hou qǐ fēi

什么时候起飞?

When will it take off?

⭐Ask About Rebooking or Alternatives

✈️ Wǒ kěyǐ gǎiqiān ma?

我可以改签吗?

Can I change to another flight?

✈️ Xiànzài hái yǒu qítā hángbān ma?

现在还有其他航班吗?

Are there other flights available?

⭐Confirm the Boarding Gate

✈️ Wǒ kě yǐ gǎi qiān ma

登机口有变化吗?

Has the gate changed?

✈️ Xiànzài shì jǐ hào dēngjīkǒu?

现在是几号登机口?

What gate is it now?

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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How do you say “no” in Chinese without sounding rude?

In this episode, we explore the difference between direct refusal and more natural, socially appropriate ways to decline in Mandarin.

⭐Simple & Direct Refusal

💔 Bù xíng.

不行。

No. / That won't work.

💔 Wǒ bù qù.

我不去。

I'm not going.

⭐More Natural Refusals

💕 Wǒ kěnéng méi bànfǎ cānjiā.

我可能没办法参加。

I may not be able to attend.

💕 Zhè cì kěnéng bù tài fāngbiàn.

这次可能不太方便。

It might not be convenient this time.

💕 Xièxiè nǐ de yāoqǐng, dàn wǒ yǐjīng yǒu ānpái le.

谢谢你的邀请，但我已经有安排了。

Thank you for the invitation, but I already have plans.

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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How do you criticize someone in Chinese without sounding rude?

In this episode, we explore the difference between direct criticism and constructive, solution-focused feedback in Mandarin.

⭐Simple & Direct Criticism

💔 Zhè bù duì.

这不对。

This is not correct.

💔 Nǐ zuò cuò le.

你做错了。

You did it wrong.

⭐More Constructive Expressions

💕 Zhèlǐ kěnéng xūyào zài tiáozhěng yīxià.

这里可能需要再调整一下。

This part may need some adjustment.

💕 Wǒ juéde kěyǐ zài yōuhuà yīxià.

我觉得可以再优化一下。

I think it could be improved a bit.

💕 Yěxǔ kěyǐ huàn yī zhǒng fāngshì.

也许可以换一种方式。

Perhaps we could try a different approach.

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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Do you know what nèi ge (那个) really means in spoken Chinese? In this episode, we break down how native speakers use this tiny but powerful word in real conversations. You’ll learn:

⭐Pointing at Something

Wǒ xǐ huan nèi ge shǒu biǎo.

我喜欢那个手表。

I like that watch.

⭐Filler Word / Buying Time

nèi ge… míng tiān wǒ men jǐ diǎn jiàn miàn?

那个… 明天我们几点见面？

Well… what time are we meeting tomorrow?

⭐Referring to a Type/Situation

nèi ge… wǒ xū yào shí jiān.

那个… 我需要时间。

About that…… I need time.

⭐The Polite Euphemism

Qǐng wèn, nèi ge… xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎr?

请问，那个… 洗手间在哪儿？

Excuse me, um… where is the restroom?

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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Do you really know how to use the word “this” in spoken Chinese? In this episode, we break down zhège (这个) and show why it is much more than just a simple translation of “this.” You’ll learn ：

⭐Pointing at Things

Zhège duōshao qián?

这个多少钱？

How much is this?

⭐Filler Word / Buying Time

Wǒ juéde...zhège…hái kěyǐ ba.

我觉得...这个…还可以吧。

I think...um…it's okay.

⭐Referring to a Type/Situation

Zhège wèntí hěn fùzá.

这个问题很复杂。

This kind of problem is very complicated.

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

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Do you know what the real harm of procrastination is?

In this episode, we learn Chinese through a short but powerful passage by one of China’s most respected writers, 史铁生 (Shi Tiesheng), from his essay 《最有用的事》 (The Most Useful Thing) :

● 拖延的最大坏处还不是耽误 (Tuōyán de zuìdà huàichù hái bú shì dānwu)

The biggest harm of procrastination is not just wasting time

● 而是会使自己变得犹豫，甚至丧失信心 ( ér shì huì shǐ zìjǐ biànde yóuyù, shènzhì sàngshī xìnxīn)

but that it makes you hesitate, and even lose confidence

● 不管什么事，决定了，就立刻去做 (Bùguǎn shénme shì, juédìng le, jiù lìkè qù zuò)

No matter what it is, once you decide, do it immediately

● 这本身就能使人生气勃勃 ( zhè běnshēn jiù néng shǐ rén shēngqì bóbó)

This alone can make life full of energy

● 保持一种主动和快乐的心情(bǎochí yì zhǒng zhǔdòng hé kuàilè de xīnqíng)

and help you keep an active and happy mindset

Learning Chinese works the same way.

Don’t wait until you feel ready or perfect.

If you’ve decided to learn, then start — and start now.

Want to sound more natural in every conversation?

Book a free 1-on-1 Mandarin trial at eChineseLearning.com and start speaking confidently today!

What would you like to listen to in the next episode, or what other Chinese expressions and Chinese cultural knowledge would you want to learn? Drop your comments below and let me know.